As the blazing lights overlooked an invigorated crowd at George B. Maloof Stadium on the night of Friday, August 19, the brown and muddied football leapt off the foot of senior kicker Jack Galvez to start a new chapter in the book of St. Pius X Varsity Football. 

The Golden Lions, beginning their first season of play under the 6A classification, faced off against non-region opponent Dacula. As well as starting in a new classification, the Golden Lions had a quarterback starting his first varsity game, senior Will Moreman. 

“[It was] really the first time he’s played quarterback in two years,” Head Coach Chad Garrison said.

Moreman, coming off a season as a wide receiver as well as the backup quarterback, had to take a major step in adjusting his game. 

“It was an eye-opening experience for him,” Coach Garrison said. “He made a couple really good throws when we needed him [to].”

Moreman finished the game with 111 pass yards off 7 completions and 10 attempts, a big accomplishment for a team that favors keeping the ball in the hands of their many running backs and full backs. Down 3-7 late in the 4th quarter, Moreman let a long ball fly towards the home sideline where senior wide receiver and defensive back Jack Tchienchou made a leaping catch that led to the Golden Lions’ only touchdown of the night and a 10-7 victory.  

“I thought it was a great win for our program,” Coach Garrison said. “Our kids are very resilient. I thought they did a really good job of hanging tough and finding a way to make some plays at the end. We had some kids really step up and do some good things late in the game.”

Tchienchou, the notable star and heart of the team, has already started his 2022 season the way he left off the last. Now with 20 Division 1 offers, Tchienchou has his eyes set on the atmosphere and prospect of playing college football for a major program. 

The Golden Lions are currently 1-3 as they wrap up a tough non-region schedule to begin the season. They most recently fell to crosstown rival Blessed Trinity 14-7 in a heartbreaking finish. They will face 7A Parkview at home on Friday, September 16 and look to earn their second win of the season before a bye week.